Empire State Building

Catch a bird’s eye view of the city glittering with lights at night from the Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan. Since it opened in 1931, this iconic Art Deco skyscraper has been immortalised in over a hundred Hollywood films, most famously in King Kong and Sleepless in Seattle. There is an observatory on the 102nd floor (the highest viewpoint in the city) and a deck on the 86th floor, both with panoramic 360-degree-views and telescopes. The building makes for an even prettier picture at night, when the uppermost floors are lit up in seasonal and holiday colours. To avoid the constant long queues, it is advisable to book tickets online.